Compassionate Visitors

There are those HIV activists called the  “Compassionate Visitors” who question budgets where costs attached to direct optimal ARV adherence, regular testing and motivations for viral suppression are eclipsed by overhead costs for rent, salaries, car maintenance, venue hire, allowances and per diems for staff are more than three quarters of HIV funding block of a given organization. Today, it is possible to attach a number to almost everything, for instance between 30-33 condoms are necessary for HIV prevention per sexually active male. Now more than ever, the HIV service provision industry is facing threats of financial cuts. This will leave not only people living with HIV the culprits but entire communities to whom HIV can be transmitted. Anything that endangers the health and survival of a person living with HIV makes him or her a contagious risk to others. a variety of scenarios can be listed such as war, a transport breakdown, government financial glitches, misappropriation of HIV funds by organization staff, Human rights abuses, loss of international donor support, patient migration, individual forgetfulness—hundreds of personal, financial, and political factors can interrupt treatment. As if this is not enough there is a growing science of dissidents who are refuting certain approaches which have been billed as part of the end to HIV package. There are those who point to a luxurious lifestyle by executives which deprives necessary funds to be allocated to direct ART/ARV related services. It is no wonder that Africans are dying in hordes from AIDS only because they can’t get enough of those drugs. Those in the HIV service world need to maintain a compassionate change of heart which in this case meaning tying reportable activities to individuals living with HIV cared for. A reduction on the money used to maintain a luxurious lifestyle which may in the long run cause a siphoning of funds meant for maintaining an ARV supply chain is called for.  It is proper to seek knowledge, it is proper to bring heads together, it is proper to maintain a standing in society but this should not be done at the expense of those suffering and living with HIV. On top of ensuring HIV awareness, testing and viral suppression there is more we can do to maintain an ecosystem in which results prevail. Involving more health workers, Food security for people living with HIV, housing, empowering those living with HIV to engage in planned community activities and work to income generating activities must be part of the plans to promote a world in which human dignity is promoted and eventually HIV will be eradicated. In India, Kenya, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Malawi and Mozambique rollout of ARV treatment in the public sector with reliance upon caregivers with only minimal training to administer simplified and standardised ARV regimens has been tried, tested and found to work. Money should be spent on training these kinds of community based health care workers. This will make HIV a community initiative, it will increase adherence , viral suppression and reduce instances of stigma and discrimination. It will also make men more responsive and accountable as far as health goes. If properly treated with available drugs, today’s 37 million infected people no longer face mortal illness as did their counterparts in the pre-treatment days of the 1980s and 1990s. That much is true. Funding cuts to key U.S. programs that support medicine and treatment are coming. A booming African population and drug-resistant strains on the rise, this is the future on which a dark pall hangs.